legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

Work
Work is not allowed during the admissibility stage of the asylum procedure. Asylum seekers
whose application has been declared admissible are issued with a provisional residence permit,
which allows them to work.
There is no special training or education programmes available to asylum seekers.
Language tuition
There are no state-funded language classes for asylum seekers.
For two years, the PRC has run a programme for asylum seekers and refugees consisting in
Portuguese language and computer classes. Due to lack of funding, this has been stopped. At
the time of writing (May 2000), no language tuition is available.
School attendance
Since school attendance requires a provisional residence permit, children of asylum seekers
processed under the admissibility phase have no access to education. Once the application has
been deemed admissible, they have the right to attend Portuguese state schools.
In practice, however, they need to have their previous school qualifications recognised, in order to
obtain an equivalence to the Portuguese school grades, which can be difficult for children
attending secondary schools. It is generally easier with those going into primary schools.
Child Care
There are no reception classes for children of asylum seekers.
Child care is not provided for asylum seekers.
Unaccompanied minors
Although unaccompanied minors are considered to be vulnerable cases, there are no special
procedures or programmes for them. Once inside the territory they are initially helped by the PRC
and granted accommodation in the reception centre. They also receive pocket money for food
and travel costs.
Usually, Santa Casa da Misericórdia provides further assistance with accommodation in hostels
as well as food and pocket money. Unaccompanied minors admitted in the asylum procedure,
receive a provisional residence permit, which allows them to attend school. Nevertheless, as for
other children, access to school requires the recognition of previous qualifications and this is
often a long process.
Female asylum seekers
Like unaccompanied minors, single women are considered to be vulnerable cases, but are not
subject to any specific provisions. They are generally accommodated in the PRC’s reception
centre during the admissibility phase.
Accommodation and pocket money is provided. Usually, after this initial period, Santa Casa da
Misericordia provides single women rented accommodation in hostel rooms and pocket money.
Social counselling and medical care are also available in the Santa Casa da Misericordia’s
facilities.
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Portugal